From the moment we met PE teacher on Married At First Sight, he instantly won the hearts of women around the nation – particularly after images surfaced of his wife, Martha Kalifatidis, kissing fellow bride Ines Basic.
But Michael Brunelli has faced bigger problems in life.
Speaking to WHO, the 28-year-old revealed his life hit an all-time low when he lost his grandfather in 2008.
“Both of my nonnos passed away, one in 2003 and one in 2008 – I struggled – especially in 2008 as it was my Year-12 year. It really rocked me. I really relied on them, I guess they raised me as well as my parents. When my parents were at work I was with my grandparents.”
Michael says his grandfather lost his life to pancreatic cancer.
“To watch him … He’s the most genuine person I’ve ever met and to be struck down with that is just not fair. It was really hard to watch my family go through it, I’m still getting emotional thinking about it.”
However, he has found a silver lining in the situation.
“One thing he asked me to do was to support my grandmother [Nonna] and I make sure I go there every week to have dinner and check up on her.”